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WTOP Sports Blog
Here we go again: 'Skins sign DeSean Jackson
Posted on: Thursday 4/3/2014 5:20pm
WASHINGTON -- Here we go again.
As the ink begins to dry on the contract between the Washington Redskins and ex- Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson, we the media begin analyzing a very complicated situation.
Let's get the on-field aspect out of the way, that's obvious. The Redskins just got a whole lot better on offense and special teams. Jackson is one of the fastest players in the league and he's a legitimate threat to break a game open every time he touches the ball.
Add to that the money: Jackson comes to town on a 3-year, $24 million deal with $16 million guaranteed. That's almost a discount when you consider comparable receivers like Percy Harvin, Vincent Jackson and Mike Wallace make far more.
So, on paper (or on Madden), this looks great.
But when was the last time something that looked good on paper looked good on the field for the 'Skins?
The Redskins suddenly have an embarrassment of riches. Pierre Garcon is coming off of a 113-catch season. Jordan Reed promises to be a top-flight option at tight end. The 'Skins also have Santana Moss, Leonard Hankerson, and Andre Roberts on deck. What happens if Jackson isn't not getting enough targets? Does he play good soldier or does he start acting like Terrell Owens?
Let's be honest: The Redskins track record with signings like these is long and wrought with failure. Yes, new coach Jay Gruden's fingerprints aren't on that rap sheet. But Dan Snyder's are. And as long as he's at the top of the Redskin pyramid, I'm of the belief this team lacks the organizational structure to properly support a move this risky.
Jackson comes to D.C. with baggage. There doesn't appear to be much substance to the rumors of his gang affiliation, but a guy with a reputation for not getting with the program and not having a strong work ethic is the antithesis of what the 'Skins need on the heels of the Mike Shanahan disaster.
New England can handle that. So can Pittsburgh, Baltimore and maybe Seattle. But not the team that recently gambled on Donovan McNabb and failed miserably.
Perhaps Gruden gets the most out of Jackson. Maybe we can finally test the leadership of Robert Griffin III. There's a chance veterans like Santana Moss and the newly-signed Ryan Clark help DJax emulate Cris Carter--another former Eagle who turned his life and his career around outside of Philly.
I'm just not eager to lay any money on that wager.
That said, the Redskins had to roll the dice. The price was right, the fit seems good and their conservative approach to free agency early in the offseason opened the door for them to take advantage of this unexpected opportunity. Team history would suggest this transaction will be a fruitful one.
But they'll have to prove their locker room and organization is strong enough to buoy up a player like Jackson, who perhaps needs a little more motivation than most players.
If this works, the NFC East is the 'Skins' for the taking. If it doesn't, they're right where they were before the move: grasping at straws and searching for answers.
As usual, this should be interesting.
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Injury for Nats on final spring training day in Florida
Posted on: Thursday 3/27/2014 5:20pm
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- On the final day in Florida for the Nationals, the team got some concerning news.
Off-season addition Doug Fister exited a minor league game after one inning with a strained right lat muscle. He was scheduled to throw 60 pitches.
Fister has dealt with elbow inflammation, which occurred after his first spring start on March 2. He finally was able to pitch last Saturday and pitched well against Miami going 3 2/3 innings allowing two hits and striking out four.
Fister tried to build up his arm strength in order to make his first start on April 6 at Nationals Park. After the outing on Thursday he was scheduled to throw in one more minor league game and then be ready for his start.
All of that is in question now and Matt Williams is definitely concerned.
"He will see the doctor in Washington tomorrow (Friday) and we will evaluate from there. It's definitely a setback."
Tanner Roark and Taylor Jordan both pitched very well this spring and are fighting for the fifth spot in the rotation. Both are scheduled to pitch in the exhibition game Saturday at Nationals Park against the Tigers and right now it is hard to imagine both of them not making the rotation with the uncertainty of Fister's health.
This has been a possibility all spring and that's one of the reasons both are still in camp.
"They both earned the right to pitch," Williams said.
As far as Fister's availability for the start of the season, "We will have to see what the doctor says and where we're at," he said.
J Zimmermann is ready
Jordan Zimmermann concluded his dominant spring with five innings of work allowing no runs on four hits. His totals this spring were 18 innings pitched, 15 strikeouts, only one walk and one earned run. His ERA was 0.50. He starts game three of the year next Thursday in New York.
Second Base
Matt Williams said he is leaning toward starting Anthony Rendon at second base, at least for the opener.
"I think it's premature at this point, still, to declare anybody but I'm leaning toward Anthony in that regard."
This isn't a surprise, it was his job to lose coming into Spring Training. Danny Espinosa has made the team and has had a pretty good spring.
One More
The Nationals will play one final exhibition game Saturday at Nationals Park against the Tigers. It all starts for real next Monday at Citi Field against the Mets.
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Orakpo the right call for Redskins
Posted on: Tuesday 3/4/2014 2:03pm
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, just 90 minutes before the league-imposed deadline, the Washington Redskins designated Brian Orakpo their franchise player.
Throughout the next few days (and maybe even months) many will question the wisdom in this transaction. I'm here to tell you it was the right call.
The Redskins wrestled with this decision. Then mulled over it some more. Finally, general manager Bruce Allen and company arrived at the decision that made the most sense for all parties involved.
They slapped Orakpo with the non-exclusive rights franchise tag, meaning he'll play the 2014 season at the average salary of the top five paid players at his position (which for linebackers is $11.455 million). Orakpo has the right to negotiate with other teams, but the 'Skins get the opportunity to match any offer. If 'Rak goes elsewhere, the Redskins get two first round draft picks as compensation -- which would be awesome for a team that hasn't had a first round pick in any of the last two drafts.
The latter scenario is highly unlikely. With just 39.5 sacks in his five NFL seasons, Orakpo hasn't distinguished himself nearly enough for someone to pay that steep a price for his services. Even the Redskins are on the fence about him because he's shown flashes that he can be elite, but he's never put together a full season of evidence to support that notion.
However, Orakpo is the best pass rusher on a team devoid of defensive talent. Just letting him walk shouldn't be an option. At 27 years-old, he's entering his prime. He's the healthiest he's been in years. This season, he'll play in a defense he already knows and promises to play more to his strengths.
Yes, paying one man over $11 million is steep. But that's the going rate for pass rushers, folks. Only quarterbacks will cost you more.
That's where some of the detractors of the Orakpo tagging lose the point. The Redskins have roughly $30 million dollars in cap space to play with. Spending a third of that space on a homegrown guy with the potential to be a great player at the most important non-QB position isn't a bad investment.
Furthermore, this regime has proven they're bargain shoppers in free agency. They haven't targeted the big-name players; they go for the second-tier guys who fit their system and won't blow up their budget. Pierre Garcon is the biggest free agent signing since 2010, and he came here on a 5-year, $42.5 million deal -- a contract that pales in comparison to some of the other deals the previous regime handed out for way less production.
After Garcon's 113 catches for 1,346 yards and five touchdowns in 2013, I can picture Allen sitting in a VIP booth at some swanky lounge saying, "I don't spend big often...but when I do, they produce."
Oh wait...I may be thinking of someone else. But I digress.
Chances are, the $20 million in leftover cap space will be more than enough to address other needs -- many of which won't get addressed in free agency this off- season anyway. This front office builds through the draft, so much of that cap space probably isn't getting used anyway.
The real issue seems to be people either overestimating or underestimating Orakpo. He's not elite, but he's definitely not a scrub either. He's a good, but not great, player and it's hard to really put a price tag on his true value.
That said, Orakpo can dictate that price in 2014. If he comes out and has an impact year (i.e.--15 sacks, six or seven forced fumbles, and maybe another pick six for good measure), he'll get top-flight money. If he has another 10 sack season (seven of which came during the Redskins' 8-game losing streak to end 2013), Orakpo and the 'Skins are right back to square one.
That's why the Redskins did the right thing by franchising Orakpo. It buys them one more opportunity to see what they have in their three-time Pro Bowl linebacker.
If he finally plays up to his potential, it'll be money well spent.
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Nats spring training: Jayson Werth's beard lives
Posted on: Saturday 2/22/2014 7:48pm
VIERA, Fla. -- Greetings from wet Viera, Fla.
It was the first rainy day of spring training, but the Nationals completed their morning workouts before the afternoon thunder boomers hit the area.
Indoors, I had the chance to sit down with Matt Williams. I first asked him about his managerial makeup. Remember, he played for such skippers as Dusty Baker in San Francisco, Mike Hargrove in Cleveland, plus Buck Showalter and Bob Brenley in Arizona.
Williams says he gets his preparedness from Buck, who he describes as ultimately prepared. He calls Dusty a player's manager - meaning he was a combination big brother, father and confidant. When the D-Backs won the 2001 World Series, Williams says Brenley let the players police the clubhouse because it was a veteran club.
So, he's taken a piece of all the managers he's played for. But, he calls Dusty his mentor since he was his hitting coach first, then manager.
They still keep in touch.
Among the many things we talked about, I found out his favorite baseball movie is "Major League. " He likes comedies.
We'll run a lot of the interview on WTOP as the season approaches.
When it comes to the regular season, Williams says he may not have a set lineup game-to-game. He's still working that process out. However, he's sure Denard Span will leadoff. Bryce Harper will be all over the top of the lineup, maybe even bat fifth, while Jayson Werth prefers to hit third, but is open to other spots.
Williams did add that while he would like to flip-flop from a lefty to righty to lefty batter throughout the lineup, he still might stack the power guys in the middle. Last season, Davey Johnson tried to go with a lefty-righty-lefty 1-8 but when the team struggled, he mainly abandoned that idea in search of offense.
#Nats coach Tony Tarasco talks base running with Harper, Werth, Span, Hairston & McLouth @wtopsports pic.twitter.com/B2H6CRz3ob— jonwarner (@jonwarnerWTOP) February 22, 2014
Williams posts a quote every day on the top of the workout schedule .
Friday it was "it takes a great deal of stamina to pursue success."
Saturday, it's "perfection is unattainable, but the pursuit of perfection is imperative."
Williams says the reason for the daily messages is to give the players something to think about. If they talk about it, even better. He does admit there is some plagiarism when coming up with the quotes.
Three players became new fathers this off-season: Ryan Zimmerman, Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg. None of them seem stressed out about their new responsibilities. They're about as low-key as you can get. Strasburg says parenthood puts everything in perspective. And, he's even changing diapers. Well, once in a while he admits he chips in. Plus, he and his wife are lucky. He says his daughter is sleeping through the night.
As for pitching, Strasburg says his elbow's been fine ever since he had bone chips removed right after the season. He likes the presence and energy that Matt Williams brings to the club and glad that pitching coach Steve McCatty is back. He says you know what to expect from "Cat."
And finally, because I'm sure you wanted to know, Jayson Werth's beard lives.
Did you think it wouldn't?
However, he admits he trimmed it right before reporting to camp. And now, Adam LaRoche and reliever Ryan Mattheus are sporting healthy growths, giving Werth serious competition for the biggest beard on the team.
Werth says it was usually no contest in the past. Now, he guesses he came in third.
He's alright with that.
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Column: Michael Sam opens doors for gay athletes
Posted on: Monday 2/10/2014 3:16pm
WASHINGTON - "I'm not afraid to tell the world who I am. I'm Michael Sam. I'm a college graduate, I'm African-American, and I'm gay."
With those words, the idea of an openly gay professional athlete in one of the four major sports leagues is close to reality.
Assuming Michael Sam is drafted in May (the senior defensive end out of Missouri heads to the NFL scouting combine as a projected 3rd-4th round pick), he'll become the first openly gay player in NFL history, thus ensuring the leap to the NFL isn't the only leap of faith he's taking.
As LZ Granderson points out, Sam is far from the first gay player in the NFL. Jerry Smith's name is right here at FedEx Field in the Redskins Ring of Honor, and his tale was recently recounted by NFL Network's "A Football Life" series.
But Sam is the first player to come out before his career officially begins, rather than at a point during or after his playing days. All he will know is the scrutiny and media attention stemming from his bold announcement.
The genesis of Sam's decision is laid out in detail
here. I think he played this exactly the way you have to when you're breaking something this big: He shared his truth with the people around him, then shared it with the public before the story got ahead of him.
San delivered his message on his terms without having to respond to rumors or reports from anonymous sources.
Sam's draft status shouldn't suffer. He's one of the best defensive ends in one of the best conferences in college football so he figures to garner some attention from teams seeking to bolster their pass rush.
It'll come down to whether teams are willing to take on the distraction of the media attention he'll attract.
The early reaction around the NFL has been mixed thus far, but I believe things will eventually get better for Sam as time goes by.
Hopefully, he'll go to a team like New England that has strong leadership and a quality support system in place. This ensures he'll not only maximize his talent, but his opportunity to eliminate any stereotypes or negative connotations associated with his lifestyle.
However, that shouldn't be Sam's focus. His publicist Howard Bragman hits the nail on the head:
"Michael is a football player, not an activist," Bragman said.
"If you start showing up at too many dinners and too many parades, you start to send the message to a potential team about his priorities. The community wins when he steps onto an NFL field and plays in a game, not as the grand marshal of a pride parade. He may do that eventually, but the first year needs to be all about football."
Hopefully, removing the burden of secrecy will help him do that. I hate the comparison of racial discrimination to the intolerance of sexual orientation, but the struggle for equality is largely similar.
Sam will need to do more than stick to an NFL roster to tear down barriers for gay athletes the way Jackie Robinson did for race in baseball.
That's why the weight and the impact of this announcement can't be overstated.
After watching Sam in his ESPN interview, it's apparent he's confident and comfortable in his own skin. He's also overcome a lot of adversity and personal tragedy in his life, perhaps making him uniquely suited as a trailblazer for gay athletes. He's taken the first step and some of the heat off subsequent young athletes brave enough to be who they are without worrying about public perception.
Seeing the locker room doors open for gay athletes is long overdue.
Here's hoping history will remember Michael Sam as the man who opened those doors and left them open for more homosexual athletes bold enough to be true to themselves.
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New coach has American off to 8-0 start in Patriot
Posted on: Wednesday 1/29/2014 9:11am
AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - As of Tuesday morning, Mike Brennan had an 8-0 conference record in his debut season as head coach at American University.
He also had some fresh advice from mentor and basketball legend Pete Carril, who had sketched a plan for beating the press on the back of a box score -- a piece of paper that could probably net a hefty price at a Sotheby's auction in about 30 years.
But Brennan had nothing on his walls.
They were white and bare, except for the studs left behind when former coach Jeff Jones moved out last year. Finally, on Tuesday afternoon, just to give the room some atmosphere -- and to supply a decent background when Brennan is doing on-camera interviews -- assistant director of athletic communications Mike Gambardella hung a photo from the 2009 Patriot League title game and a poster.
Brennan, 41, kept right on working. He's a coach, not an interior decorator.
"He's very, very passionate about basketball," senior center Tony Wroblicky said. "Coach Jones was, too, but I think coach Brennan's on a slightly higher level."
From Princeton to American with a stop at Georgetown, Brennan has taken a team projected to finish ninth in the 10-school Patriot League and transformed it in a hurry. Using his single-minded basketball focus, Brennan got the players to buy into his version of the Princeton offense made famous by Carril. Share the ball. Do a little bit of everything. Oh, and look for the backdoor cut.
"It's just getting guys to be skilled, getting them to share the ball, that's probably the biggest obstacle," Brennan said. "Getting people to share goes against human nature."
Brennan played for Carril at Princeton in the early 1990s and coached for seven years on the Tigers' staff. Then came two seasons as an assistant at American under Jones and four years at Georgetown working for another Carril protégé, John Thompson III.
When Jones left for Old Dominion, Brennan didn't have to leave Washington, D.C., to get his first head coaching job, leaving the Hilltop at Georgetown for AU Park. It took a few games for his offensive philosophy to take hold: The Eagles went 4-7 in nonconference play, including a 63-52 loss at Ohio State.
But things have started to click. AU won a first-place showdown with Boston University last week by 30 points.
"Princeton, I was kind of unsure about that" at first, Wroblicky said. "But I couldn't be happier playing under it right now."
There's always room for improvement, however. Carril attended the BU game and found a flaw or two in the 86-56 victory.
"We got pressed a bit and turned it over a couple of times," Brennan said, "and he was drawing something on the back of a box score, saying, 'Hey, try this against the press.' He's a teacher at heart, and he's a coach at heart."
Ever since American moved to the Patriot League from the Colonial Athletic Association in 2001, the running joke in D.C. circles has been that AU's coach is hired to win one game per season -- the conference tournament championship game that guarantees an NCAA berth.
Jones prevailed in 2008 and 2009, and Brennan will have to do the same to get to the big dance. Even an unbeaten league record might not be enough to get the Eagles' RPI out of triple digits.
But 8-0 is a pretty good start.
"It's nice to have some success in the league," junior guard John Schoof said. "But it still comes down to the end of the year to tournament time. That's definitely the main goal, is the Patriot League championship -- and hopefully more than that."
Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
NFL Championship Sunday Recap: Called it
Posted on: Monday 1/20/2014 7:36am
WASHINGTON - Well, well, well. Look who's back in business.
Before the season, I picked the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl XLVIII. Which means this is the 4th time in the five years I've done NFL Recaps I've correctly predicted one of the two Super Bowl participants in the preseason.
Hopefully, that gets me back some of the street cred I lost predicting the Redskins would go 11-5. But I digress.
What we have here, folks, is a good old-fashioned showdown in New Jersey. The Seahawks will bring their top-ranked defense to MetLife Stadium against the record-setting Denver Broncos offense led by Peyton Manning. Having those two units on the field, facing-off to decide who wins the Lombardi Trophy just seems apropos.
We've got two weeks to dissect this game, so I won't burn all my material now. But I will point out this tweet from Tony Dungy after the game: "This reminds me of 30 yrs ago. 1984 Dan Marino and Miami looked unstoppable on Offense. Played Ronnie Lott and a physical 49er D in SB XIX."
At a time when the NFL is shifting away from the old "Defense Wins Championships" credo, Seattle has a chance to reverse that perception. Meanwhile, Peyton is in position to cement his legacy as the greatest quarterback of all-time.
It's a team easily seen as the villain (c'mon...nicknames like Beastmode and the Legion of Boom lend themselves to that, no?) vs. the feel good stories of John Fox (back from midseason heart surgery) and Peyton Manning (from career-threatening neck surgery to greatest single season for a QB ever).
Thus, it's the Super Bowl we deserve, even if it's not the one we need right now. Can't wait.
On to the final NFL Recap of the season. I'll give you a moment to compose yourself.
Patriots 16
Broncos 26
Typical of my 2013 season, New England's injury-riddled lineup stalls out in Denver a week after I proclaimed them as "back." Instead, they're back home. Given what they had to overcome this season, they should be proud to get this far...even if Tom Brady is now just 2-4 in the postseason against the Manning family.
I just had to chuckle reading some of the "See? Peyton CAN Win the Big One" tweets. Manning was awesome on Sunday. Dude threw for 400 yards in a playoff game (for an NFL-record 3rd time), something his boss John Elway never did for the Broncos. But let's be real...this game was this game. It wouldn't change his past performances and certainly doesn't affect his future ones. Let's all just appreciate the masterpiece he put together against the Pats and save the legacy talk until after the confetti has fallen in New Jersey.
Niners 17
Seahawks 23
The Beats By Dre ads would lead you to believe just about every player walks into the stadium thinking they're "The Man". Only one left the stadium having proved it: Richard Sherman.
Yes, he's brash. Yes, he's easy to hate. But like Wes Mantooth, we gotta respect him. He's the best player on the league's best defense, and he's taking Seattle to their 2nd- ever Super Bowl.
Colin Kaepernick posted his 2nd career 100-yard rushing postseason game, and already has the 2nd-most rushing yards by a QB in playoff history. But until he gets his game together as a passer, San Francisco will continue to fall short.
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Gruden: he's got what the Redskins need
Posted on: Friday 1/10/2014 11:55pm
WASHINGTON - When the Washington Redskins decided to fire Mike Shanahan last week, many of us began the "Gruden Watch."
The Skins got Gruden. Just not the one we were thinking.
It's Jay Gruden who's been tabbed to lead the Burgundy and Gold, not his older brother Jon, who coached Tampa Bay to their lone Super Bowl in 2003, and currently resides in ESPN's Monday Night Football booth.
We don't know if Jon was ever truly on the Redskins' wish list, but we know there's a warm spot in general manager Bruce Allen's heart for the Gruden family from their time together in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization.
Jay doesn't just carry the family name, though it's a good one. In addition to his brother's success, his father Jim was a longtime coach and scout. But he's paid his dues. He's coached for over 15 years at various levels, and was the head coach and general manager of the United Football League's Florida Tuskers. Even though he hasn't done so yet in the NFL, he's got experience running a team -- which puts him ahead of the curve as far as first-time head coaches are concerned.
As the events of Wednesday and Thursday unfolded, it became increasingly obvious that key assistants like Sean McVay on offense, and Jim Haslett and Raheem Morris on defense all who worked with Gruden and Allen in Tampa Bay -- were retained because of their ties to Gruden.
Which of course leads one to believe Gruden was the target all along.
I know what you're thinking -- typical Redskins. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Many have applauded the Redskins new direction, with perhaps the most respected voice of praise coming from the architect of the great Redskins teams of the 1980s, former general manager Bobby Beathard.
Beathard, in a local interview, lauded the move, calling it a "great hire," and went on to say that when he was spearheading his own coaching search back in 1981, he spoke to a young offensive coordinator named Joe Gibbs even before Jack Pardee was fired as coach of the Skins. Beathard told Gibbs the job was his if he wanted it, and told him so before he interviewed other candidates. Beathard went through with the interviews in the name of due diligence, but knew Gibbs was his man all along.
Oh, and part of that process? He had to see if Gibbs was prepared to work with the Redskins' difficult quarterback, Joe Theismann.
Sound familiar?
By all accounts, Gruden is an innovative coach. He's considered a good communicator, and a fiery coach (which this appearance on Hard Knocks hammers home. I'd advise not watching it at work or in front of the kids). One of his former players describes him as Bruce Banner during the week, but the Incredible Hulk on game day.
The 'Skins could use a guy like this.
On paper, he looks like a good hire. Gruden is a younger coach (he'll be 47 in March) with pedigree, has coaches he's familiar with already in-house (an advantage he didn't have in Cincinnati), and already has a franchise quarterback in Robert Griffin III -- who enters this off-season fully healthy. Thanks to his refreshing enthusiasm and bluntness in the introductory press conference, Gruden has already proven himself far more likable than Shanahan ever was.
The real question is: Can he truly change the culture at Redskins Park and overcome the dysfunction and toxic atmosphere fostered by owner Dan Snyder? And in doing so, can Gruden get RGIII to buy what he's selling?
That's the task that awaits the Redskins' 28th head coach -- the man who talks like his brother and looks like Cary Elwes.
Time will tell if he can coach like Joe Gibbs.
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NFL Wild Card recap: The reseed rationale
Posted on: Monday 1/6/2014 12:26pm
WASHINGTON - In the days leading up to Wild Card Weekend, there was some discussion surrounding whether the NFL should change the way playoff seeding works.
The reasoning was simple: Teams like the 8-7-1 Green Bay Packers shouldn't be rewarded for winning a crappy division by enjoying home-field advantage against teams like the 12-4 San Francisco 49ers, whose greatest sin is sharing space in the NFC West with the juggernaut Seattle Seahawks.
So the thought is, why not reseed the playoffs and send that game -- and games like it -- to the team with the better record?
I totally understand that rationale. But I disagree.
Profootballtalk.com makes a compelling argument for a potential reseeding, but I don't necessarily think the current alignment is broken.Yes, we've seen three examples of lopsided matchups in the last four years. But I would make the case that those games were determined by far more than just the location in which they were played.
The 2010 example of the 11-5 Saints losing to the 7-9 Seahawks had more to do with New Orleans having a crappy defense (remember that epic Beast Mode TD run?) than playing on the road.
The 12-4 Steelers losing to the 8-8 Broncos in 2011? Yes, they had to play without Ryan Clark because of the Denver altitude (which wouldn't have been an issue had the game been played in Pittsburgh) but if you call an all-out blitz on 3rd down in overtime (even if the QB is Tim Tebow), you deserve to lose (especially when the QB beating you on that play is Tim Tebow).
Furthermore, reseeding based on record basically eliminates the upside of winning your division. To me, you're trading off one disservice for another. Yes, in theory, a team with a gaudy record should host a playoff game. But then the cardinal sin becomes an overload of one division in the postseason.
For example...would it really be fair if we bumped the 8-win Packers from the playoffs this year in favor of the 10-6 Arizona Cardinals? Are two wins really worth swapping out a team with winning records in their division and their conference for a 3rd place team that went 2-4 in their division and 6-6 in- conference?
Now that would be a travesty.
Further validating the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" end of the debate, three out of four road teams won during Wild Card Weekend. Plus, two of those three teams sport better records than the division-winner they beat.
In our society that often overreacts to perceived slights, it's hard for some folks to live with this reality: Sometimes the best course of action is to leave well enough alone.
But if you feel like you absolutely have to do something, read the Wild Card Recap:
Chiefs 44
Colts 45
Is there any surprise that Andrew Luck authored the second-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history in just his second career playoff game? Or that Andy Reid's questionable play-calling and/or time management were on display on the other sideline?
Saints 26
Eagles 24
For those keeping score at home, this makes the first-ever road win for New Orleans in six tries. I kinda think they're over the whole Bountygate thing now.
As for Philly...this makes four straight playoff losses and a second straight one- and-done for an NFC East champion. Eagles fans should just be happy to have won a division coming off a 4-12 nightmare...but have you ever tried to console that fanbase? It rarely ends well.
Chargers 27
Bengals 10
It's hard to tell if this game was the result of San Diego enjoying life without Norv Turner or if this is another in a long line of choke jobs by Cincinnati. Given Andy Dalton has thrown 6 picks against only one TD in his three career postseason losses, and Marvin Lewis is now a Schottenheimer-esque 0-5 in the playoffs -- I tend to believe the latter.
Niners 23
Packers 20
All week, I literally laughed out loud at people giving Green Bay the advantage in this game because of the sub-zero temperatures. I mean, aren't people aware the Packers QB (Aaron Rodgers) is from California and San Fran's QB (Colin Kaepernick) is from Wisconsin?
Oh, and the most intimidating homefield advantage in pro football is now officially the stuff of legend. The Pack were 13-0 at Lambeau Field from 1939 to 2001. Since then? They're 3-5.
NFL recap week 16: 'Tis the season
Posted on: Tuesday 12/24/2013 2:07am
WASHINGTON - It's the holiday season. It's a season of giving, fellowship, and merriment.
So I'm giving you an abbreviated NFL Recap this week for fellowship with my friends and family. Merriment may or may not be involved. But that's kind of my call, isn't it?
Anyways, I thought I'd do something different for this recap since it falls on Christmas Eve. Here's the 12 Days of Christmas, NFL Recap style.
On the first day of Christmas, the NFL gave to me:
- 12 Brees interceptions
- 11 Panther victories
- 10 Shady (McCoy) touchdowns
- 9 hot seat coaches
- 8 starts for Keenum
- 7 Wild card eligibles
- 6 game slide for Cleveland
- 5 Saints road losses
- 4 Peyton records
- 3 Redskin victories
- 2 divisions open
- ...and a recap of Week 16.
Happy Holidays!
Cowboys 24 Redskins 23
Washington broke Tony Romo's back, held a late nine point lead and still found a way to lose. Unless he's got a hot tub time machine, there's literally nothing Mike Shanahan can do to keep his job.
Saints 13
Panthers 17
This was sweet for Carolina: Clinch a playoff spot, make a statement at a division rival's expense and avenge your worst loss of the season. Nobody wants to see this Panthers defense paired with Cam Newton in the postseason.
Dolphins 0
Bills 19
If Buffalo played like this all year, they'd be the ones in the mix for a wild card spot in the AFC instead of Miami.
Vikings 14
Bengals 42
Cincinnati is in the postseason for the third straight year and the fourth time in five years. If Andy Dalton keeps playing like this, they may actually win a playoff game this time around.
Colts 23
Chiefs 7
Ironically, Kansas City seemed to take a page out of Indy's book: Coast to the regular season finish line after clinching a playoff spot. The Chiefs better not keep it up, or else their postseason stay will be brief -- like so many Colts teams of the 2000s.
Bucs 13
Rams 23
Memo to Chris Long: If you're carrying the coach of your 7-8, non-playoff team off the field then yes...by definition, you do carry any jackwagon off the field.
Browns 13
Jets 24
If this is how New York plays when they think their coach is getting fired, Rex Ryan might have bought himself another year coaching the Jets.
Titans 20
Jaguars 16
Who cares?
Broncos 37
Texans 13
Just to hammer home the point that Peyton Manning is in the midst of the greatest single season performance by a quarterback in NFL history, old #18 threw touchdown pass #51 to set a new league record. For those keeping score at home, he's now 43 completions and 267 yards from setting new NFL records in those categories. Amazing.
Giants 23
Lions 20 (OT)
Coach Jim Schwartz may not consider Detroit's 2013 season a failure, but it really is. Getting mathematically eliminated from the playoffs when you play in a division where .500 ball could win you the NFC North is definitely a fireable offense.
Cardinals 17
Seahawks 10
Arizona made a huge statement here: We're good, we're balanced, and we stopped Seattle's 14-game home win streak. That's the calling card you want going into the playoffs.
Steelers 38
Packers 31
Give both of these teams credit. Neither has any business still sniffing around a playoff spot, yet Green Bay and Pittsburgh have overcome injuries and a lack of depth to stay relevant. That's why these are two of the most storied and enviable franchises in the NFL.
Raiders 13
Chargers 26
No matter what happens next week, this has been a good year in San Diego. They're still alive in the playoff race heading into Week 17, which is more than we could say for this franchise the last two seasons. The future is bright for the Chargers.
Patriots 41
Ravens 7
New England is the first team since the AFL/NFL merger to win a 10th title in 11 years -- something they knew before this one even kicked off. Meanwhile, Baltimore was still in play for the AFC North title but played like the team with nothing to play for. Given there's no hope of seeing the Giants in the Super Bowl, this might just be New England's year.
Bears 11
Eagles 54
Philly's beatdown of Cutler and Company ensures they'll play Sunday Night Football consecutive weeks. Expect a repeat performance to win the NFC East against the Romo-less Cowboys.
Falcons 24
Niners 34
Great way to close out Candlestick. If Jim Harbaugh keeps wearing those cleats, San Fran might have another game or two there.
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About This Product
Boys flat-front pant with double knee. Waist has center-back elastic and hook-and-eye closure. Soil-release treated poly/cotton twill holds color and releases stains with little or no ironing. Imported. For Boys 4-7 see style 50361, for Boys 8-20 see style 50362, for Boys Husky see style 50363, for men's sizes 28-48 see 50364(32" inseam), 50364S (30" inseam), 50364T (34" inseam).
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Panera Breads French Miche (2 oz)
- Found In: Discontinued » Discontinued Products
- Brand: Panera Breads
- Manufactured by: Panera Breads
Ingredients ():
Flour Unbleached Enriched (Wheat Flour, Barley Malted Flour, Niacin, Iron Reduced, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid (Vitamin aB)) , Water, Salt, Yeast, Dough Conditioner(s) (Ascorbic Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Corn Starch)
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May contain traces of peanuts and/or tree nuts
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 2 oz
- Servings Per Container: 57.0
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 140.0Calories from Fat 5.0
- Total Calories 7980Total Calories from Fat 285
- % Daily Value* (DV)Recommended DV
Total Fat 0.5 g 0%65 g
- Saturated Fat 0.0 g0%20 g
- Trans Fat 0.0 g
- Cholesterol 0.0 mg0%300 mg
- Sodium 360.0 mg15%2,400 mg
- Potassium 0 mg0%3,500 mg
Total Carbohydrate 28.0 g 9%300 g
- Dietary Fiber 1.0 g4%25 g
- Sugars 0.0 g
- Protein 5.0 g
- Vitamin A 0.0%
- Vitamin C 0.0%
- Calcium 2.0%
- Iron 10.0%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily vailues may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Weight Watchers PointsPlus® Value* = 4
*Weight Watchers® and Points® are registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. The number of Points provided here were calculated by Food Facts, Inc. based on published Weight Watchers International, Inc. information and do not imply sponsorship or endorsement of such number of Points, Food Facts, Inc., or the above product by Weight Watchers International, Inc.
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Main Content
Sport your old-school Kings pride as you get loud in the stands with this Revolution 30 Swingman performance throwback jersey from adidas' Hardwood Collection! It features a sewn-on tackle twill throwback team name across the front and Evans' name and number on the back — all on a jersey designed to look like the ones worn during their 50'-'51 season when they were the Rochester Royals. It also boasts new recycled fabrication that's 35% lighter and absorbs moisture in three seconds for 50% faster drying time, so you'll stay cool and dry like the pros no matter how heated the on-court action gets!
- 100% Polyester fabric
- Mesh jersey
- Tackle twill numbers & lettering
- Embroidered NBA & adidas logos
- Length + 2
- Jock tag
- Sewn-on Hardwood Classics tag
- Rib-knit collar & arm holes
- Reinforced taped collar seam
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I found a blog post introducing an interesting beta app called WorkPlace.io. I haven't gotten my invite to join it yet, but it seems pretty interesting. It's a mobile office management and metrics app.
In this video, DZone speaks with Hamid Shojaee from Axosoft. DZone.com attended the Agile Conference 2013 in Nashville to speak with industry leaders about how far agile has come in the last year.
It takes more than talent to make a great product. You also have to focus on the right things, in the right order, with the right people at hand. Learn the key points for successfully developing product so you can make the most progress on your big idea.
As agilists continue to deliver deliver on the principles and promises of the 2001 Manifesto, developers and managers often debate the definition of 'done'. Urbancode's Eric Minick uses concepts and methods of DevOps to clarify and concretize the problem, offering his thoughts on the current state of software development methods, metrics, and tools.
This talk intends to show the real-world cost of high technical debt and an agile approach to debt reduction, based my experiences from a product development project that fought actively against the huge accumulated debt.
Code faster by voice, build your hacker score instead of a resume, and learn a new technique for CSS absolute centering. Plus, a new release for Vim and a tool that makes a meme when you Git commit.
Michael Sahota and Olaf Lewitz talk about their newest venture, Temenos - The Healing Container: a way to deepen trust, interaction and health of team members.
This is an interesting read with the main value being in the links to these old papers that show how many of the ideas behind Agile are not new. It gives you a good idea of the problems we keep encountering throughout history.
DZone's coverage of Agile 2013 continues in this video as we speak with Jonathan Thorpe from Serena Software about the trends in agile principles and practices.
Essential Scrum author Kenny Rubin talks about 'Strategies for Agile Portfolio Management' and the question of 'Component vs. Feature Teams'. Kenny provides some great insights on how organizations can use economic metrics to help companies make better informed choices about how to practice Agile.
John Esposito, editor at DZone.com, attended Agile Conference 2013 in Nashville to speak with industry leaders about Agile topics. In this first installation of our video series, John speaks with Chris Clarke and Lothar Schubert from CollabNet.
Did you see assembla's "No Scrum" t-shirts at Agile 2013? Does assembla have something against Scrum? I don't think so. The description says that it will be a good "conversation starter" for you and Scrum coaches, which comprise most of the attendees.
Juan talks about how you can bring your "traditional" PMP experience with you to your agile practice. Merging the traditional PM knowledge with agile practices can help you get it done.
Manoj Vadakkan and Bob Payne talk about their presentation on cognitive bias. Our own internal mental models can blind us both from seeing problems and from finding better solutions. They share tips on getting past these effects to improvements.
Program Manger, Christina Bang and Agile Delivery Manager, Sarah Goff-DuPont update us on how Atlassian is helping people get better at the work of creating software. This includes new features in their product and also new ways of supporting learning in the Agile community.


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Rooted in San Marcos: Young musician to share the stage with Ronnie Huckaby
Camille Sanders, now 17, got her start in music at a young age. A very young age. She was just three years old when she started to play the piano and toured around South Texas with her grandfather, the late Howard Yeargan of San Marcos, playing Gospel shows. By 15 she was accepted into an elite Los Angeles acting camp run by Adrian R'Mante of the Disney Channel's "Suite Life of Zack and Cody."
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Man in 1962 plane crash lives to write about his adventure
Fred Caruso's journey to becoming an Irish citizen began with a plane crash. Caruso, a New York native from an Italian family, was headed from Newark, N.J., to Frankfurt, Germany, when…
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Meditation can be quite a tricky practice because the mind is like a naughty child. By its very nature, the mind tends to wander off during the meditation practice. If one's energy is low at the time of meditation, falling asleep can result. If energy is too high, fantasy and distraction become the barriers. At such times, the mala provides the much needed anchor. The mala beads are moved in rhythm with the breath and the mantra, so that both-sleep as well as excessive mental distraction-are prevented by this action upon the beads. A personal mala is a wonderful accessory to meditation, which when used regularly with a personal mantra, absorbs the vibrations of the practice. It becomes like a close friend or a comfortable piece of clothing.
There are different ways to "tell the beads" depending on your tradition, be it Hindu, Buddhist or some other way. In general, the practice begins at the larger or head bead and continues around the loop until that bead is reached again. That bead is never passed over. So if you plan to do more than one round, the mala is turned around to proceed again in the reverse direction. After a while of practicing your meditation or mantras with a mala, whenever it is taken up, it automatically conditions the mind to the meditative state.
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Tibetan Nuns Project
Tibetan Nuns Project (TNP) was founded in 1987 to provide education and humanitarian aid to refugee nuns from Tibet and the Himalayan regions of India. Tibetan Nuns Project began when a group of 66 nuns appeared in Dharamsala, India. The 66 women had walked across the Himalayas from eastern Tibet to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's newly adopted homeland in northern India. They knew no one and were exhausted and ill. They wearily camped out in downtown Dharmsala, hope their long journey was near the end.
The Tibetan community immediately responded: Tibetan Women's Association organized emergency assistance to provide their basic needs and the Tibetan Nuns Project was born. Working with the Tibetan Women's Association and the Tibetan Government in Exile Department of Religion and Culture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, TNP sought to finding a long-term solution to the problem of how to secure housing, medical care and most importantly, education for refugee nuns. A sponsorship program was created that continues to generate worldwide support.
Today, TNP sponsors over 650 nuns. TNP has established two nunneries [Shugsep and Dolma Ling] and provides sponsorship support for the nuns of Geden Choeling and Tilokpur in Dharmasala. Other building and housing projects include Sherab Choeling Nunnery in LaHaul-Spiti. More room is always need for newly arrived nuns seeking aid and asylum.
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Shield volcano
|This article's lead section may not adequately summarize key points of its contents. (September 2011)
A shield volcano is a type of volcano usually built almost entirely of fluid lava flows. They are named for their large size and low profile, resembling a warrior's shield lying on the ground. This is caused by the highly fluid lava they erupt, which travels farther than lava erupted from stratovolcanoes. This results in the steady accumulation of broad sheets of lava, building up the shield volcano's distinctive form. Shield volcanoes contain low viscosity magma, which gives them flowing mafic lava.
Shield volcanoes are built by effusive eruptions, which flow out in all directions to create a shield like that of a warrior.[1] The word "shield" has a long history, and is derived from the Old English scield or scild, which is in turn taken from the Proto-Germanic dus, and related to the Gothic skildus, meaning "to divide, split, or separate". Shield volcano itself is taken from the German term Schildvulkan.[2]
Shield volcanoes are one of the four major types of volcanoes, distinguished from the three other major volcanic types, stratovolcanoes, lava domes, and cinder cones, by distinct differences in structure and composition. Stratovolcanoes are built up by the accumulation of thick, viscous lavas, cinder cones are constructed of tephra ejected in explosive eruptions, and lava domes are built from extremely thick lava which can't flow far from the vent. In comparison, shield volcanoes are usually built of low viscosity basaltic lavas that erupt in longer cycles than that of a stratovolcano.[3] Shield volcanoes are commonly products of hotspot volcanism, but can form at rift and subduction zones as well.[4] The term Shield volcano is also used to include other scutiform volcanoes including uncommon pyroclastic shields (whose broad low-angle slopes are formed by accumulation of fragmental material from powerful explosive eruptions)[5] and rare felsic lava shields (whose broad low-angle slopes are formed by unusual magma compositions resulting in low viscosity felsic magmas).
The types of eruptions that occur at the majority of shield volcanoes have been named Hawaiian eruptions, after the Hawaiian chain in which they are most prominent. Hawaiian eruptions are characterized by the effusive emission of fluid lavas.[6] The mobile nature of these lavas allows shield volcano flows to travel a longer distance than those of other volcanic types, resulting in larger and thinner sheets of lava,[1] often just 1 m (3 ft) thick.[3] Over long periods of time, the gradual buildup of thousands of these flows slowly constructs the characteristically low, broad profile of a mature shield volcano.[1]
Because of their gradual buildup and near-continuous eruptive characteristics, shield volcanoes vary widely in size with their age.[3] Mature shield volcanoes are the largest volcanoes on Earth.[4][n 1] Shield volcanoes often measure 3 to 4 mi (5 to 6 km) in diameter and surpass 1,500 to 2,000 ft (460 to 610 m) in height. The largest shield volcano (and second largest volcano in the solar system) is the Tamu Massif,[7] located 1000 miles east of Japan, completely submerged under the Pacific ocean. It has an area of more than 100,000 square miles. It is considered extinct and was last active about 145 million years ago. The largest currently active volcano in the world is Mauna Loa in Hawaiʻi, one of five shield volcanoes that formed the "Big Island" of Hawaii. It currently projects 13,677 ft (4,169 m) above sea level,[1] and is over 60 mi (97 km) wide.[3] The volcano is estimated to contain 80,000 km3 (19,000 cu mi) of basalt,[8] a mass so great that it has slumped into the Earth's crust.[9] The lower slopes of shield volcanoes are generally gentle (~2 degrees), but steepen with elevation (reaching ~10 degrees) before flattening near the summit, giving the volcanoes a convex shape.[3] The height of a shield volcano is typically 1/20th of its width.[3]
The Hawaiian shield volcanoes and the Galápagos islands are unique in that they are not located near any plate boundaries; instead, the two chains are fed by the movement of oceanic plates over an upwelling of magma known as a hotspot. Over millions of years, the tectonic movement that moves continents also creates long volcanic trails across the seafloor. The Hawaiian and Galápagos shields, and other hotspot shields like them, are both constructed of oceanic island basalt. Their lavas are characterized by high levels of sodium, potassium, and aluminium.[10]
Rift zones are a prevalent feature on shield volcanoes that is rare on other volcanic types. The large, decentralized shape of Hawaiian volcanoes as compared to their smaller, symmetrical Icelandic cousins can be attributed to rift eruptions. Fissure venting is common in Hawaiʻi; most Hawaiian eruptions begin with a so-called "wall of fire" along a major fissure line before centralizing to a small number of points. This accounts for their asymmetrical shape, whereas Icelandic volcanoes follow a pattern of central eruptions dominated by summit calderas, causing the lava to be more evenly distributed or symmetrical.[1][3][6][9]
Features common in shield volcanism include lava tubes.[8] Lava tubes are cave-like volcanic straights formed by the hardening of overlaying lava. These structures help further the propagation of lava, as the walls of the tube insulates the lava within.[11] Lava tubes can account for a large portion of shield volcano activity; for example, an estimated 58% of the lava forming Kilauea comes from lava tubes.[8]
Most mature shield volcanoes have multiple splatter (or cinder) cones on their flanks. The cones are a result of tephra ejection during incessant activity, building up a volcanic cone at the eruption site, and thus marking the site of former and current eruptive sites on the shield volcano.[4][6] A prominent example of a shield volcano-bound cinder cone is Puʻu ʻŌʻō on Kīlauea.[9] The cone has been erupting continuously since 1983 in one of the longest-lasting rift eruptions in recent history, and was built up to its present height of 2,290 ft (698 m) by over 25 years of activity.[12]
In some shield volcano eruptions, basaltic lava pours out of a long fissure instead of a central vent, and shrouds the countryside with a long band of volcanic material in the form of a broud plateau. Plateaus of this type exist in Iceland, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho; the most prominent ones are situated along the Snake River in Idaho and the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon, where they have been measured to be over a 1 mi (2 km) in thickness.[1] Many eruptions start as a so-called "curtain of fire"—a long eruptive chain along a fissure vent on the volcano. Eventually these eruptions die down and start to focus around a few points on the fissure, where activity is concentrated.[6]
Calderas are a common feature on shield volcanoes. They are formed and reformed over the volcano's lifespan. Long eruptive periods form cinder cones, which then collapse over time to form calderas. The calderas are often filled up by future eruptions, or formed elsewhere, and this cycle of collapse and regeneration takes place throughout the volcano's lifespan.[4]
Interactions between water and lava at shield volcanoes can cause some eruptions to become hydrovolcanic. These explosive eruptions are drastically different from the usual shield volcanic activity,[4] and are especially prevalent at the waterbound volcanoes of the Hawaiian Isles.[6]
Shield volcanoes are found worldwide. They can form over hotspots (points where magma from below the surface wells up), such as the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain and the Galápagos Islands, or over more conventional rift zones, such as the Icelandic shields and the shield volcanoes of East Africa. Many shield volcanoes are found in ocean basins, such as Tamu Massif, the world's largest, although they can be found inland as well—East Africa being one example of this.[13]
Hawaiian islands[edit]
The largest and most prominent shield volcano chain in the world is the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of hotspot volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean. The Hawaiian volcanoes are characterized by frequent rift eruptions, their large size (thousands of km3 in volume), and their rough, decentralized shape. Rift zones are a prominent feature on these volcanoes, and account for their seemingly random volcanic structure.[3] They are fueled by the movement of the Pacific Plate over the Hawaii hotspot, and form a long chain of volcanoes, atolls, and seamounts 2,600 km (1,616 mi) long with a total volume of over 750,000 km3 (179,935 cu mi). The chain contains at least 43 major volcanoes, and Meiji Seamount at its terminus near the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench is 85 million years old.[14][15] The volcanoes follow a distinct evolutionary pattern of growth and death.[16]
The chain includes the second largest volcano on Earth, Mauna Loa, which stands 4,170 m (13,680 ft) above sea level and reaches a further 13 km (8 mi) below the waterline and into the crust, approximately 80,000 km3 (19,000 cu mi) of rock.[8] Kilauea, meanwhile, is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, with the current ongoing eruption having begun in January 1983.[1]
Galápagos islands[edit]
The Galápagos Islands are an isolated set of volcanoes, consisting of shield volcanoes and lava plateaus, located 1,200 km (746 mi) west of Ecuador. They are driven by the Galápagos hotspot, and are between approximately 4.2 million and 700,000 years of age.[10] The largest island, Isabela Island, consists of six coalesced shield volcanoes, each delineated by a large summit caldera. Española, the oldest island, and Fernandina, the youngest, are also shield volcanoes, as are most of the other islands in the chain.[17][18][19] The Galápagos Islands are perched on a large lava plateau known as the Galápagos Platform. This platform creates a shallow water depth of 360 to 900 m (1,181 to 2,953 ft) at the base of the islands, which stretch over a 174 mi (280 km)-long diameter.[20] Since Charles Darwin's famous visit to the islands in 1835, there have been over 60 recorded eruptions in the islands, from six different shield volcanoes.[17][19] Of the 21 emergent volcanoes, 13 are considered active.[10]
The Galápagos islands are geologically young for such a big chain, and the pattern of their rift zones follows one of two trends, one north-northwest, and one east-west. The composition of the lavas of the Galápagos shields are strikingly similar to those of the Hawaiian volcanoes. Curiously, they do not form the same volcanic "line" associated with most hotspots. They are not alone in this regard; the Cobb-Eickelberg Seamount chain in the North Pacific is another example of such a delineated chain. In addition, there is no clear pattern of age between the volcanoes, suggesting a complicated, irregular pattern of creation. How exactly the islands were formed remains a geological mystery, although several theories have been fronted.[21]
Another major center of shield volcanic activity is Iceland. Located over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a divergent tectonic plate in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Iceland is the site of about 130 volcanoes of various types.[9] Icelandic shield volcanoes are generally of Holocene age, between 5000 and 10000 years old, except for the island of Surtsey, a Surtseyan shield. The volcanoes are also very narrow in distribution, occurring in two bands in the West and North Volcanic Zones. Like Hawaiian volcanoes, their formation initially begins with several eruptive centers before centralizing and concentrating at a single point. The main shield then forms, burying the smaller ones formed by the early eruptions with its lava.[20]
Icelandic shields are mostly small (~15 km3 (4 cu mi)), symmetrical (although this can affected by surface topography), and characterized by eruptions from summit calderas.[20] They are composed of either tholeiitic olivine or picritic basalt. The tholeiitic shields tend to be wider and shallower than the picritic shields.[22] They do not follow the pattern of caldera growth and destruction that other shield volcanoes do; caldera may form, but they generally do not disappear.[3][20]
East Africa[edit]
East Africa is the site of volcanic activity generated by the development of the East African Rift, a developing plate boundary in Africa, and from nearby hotspots. Some volcanoes interact with both. Shield volcanoes are found near the rift and off the coast of Africa, although stratovolcanoes are more common. Although sparsely studied, the fact that all of its volcanoes are of Holocene age reflects how young the volcanic center is. One interesting characteristic of East African volcanism is a penchant for the formation of lava lakes; these semi-permanent lava bodies, extremely rare elsewhere, form in about 9% of African eruptions.[23]
The most active shield volcano in Africa is Nyamuragira. Eruptions at the shield volcano are generally centered within the large summit caldera or on the numerous fissures and cinder cones on the volcano's flanks. Lava flows from the most recent century extend down the flanks more than 30 km (19 mi) from the summit, reaching as far as Lake Kivu. Erta Ale in Ethiopia is another active shield volcano, and one of the few places in the world with a permanent lava lake, which has been active since at least 1967, and possibly since 1906.[23] Other volcanic centers include Menengai, a massive shield caldera,[24] and Mount Marsabit, near the town of Marsabit.
Extraterrestrial volcanoes[edit]
Volcanoes are not limited to Earth; they can exist on any rocky planet or moon large or active enough to have a molten inner core, and since probes were first launched in the 1960s, volcanoes have been found across the solar system. Shield volcanoes and volcanic vents have been found on Mars, Venus, and Io; cryovolcanoes on Triton; and subsurface hotspots on Europa.[25]
The volcanoes of Mars are very similar to the shield volcanoes on Earth. Both have gently sloping flanks, collapse craters along their central structure, and are built of highly fluid lavas. Volcanic features on Mars were observed long before they were first studied in detail during the 1976-1979 Viking mission. The principal difference between the volcanoes of Mars and those on Earth is in terms of size; Martian volcanoes range in size up to 14 mi (23 km) high and 370 mi (595 km) in diameter, far larger than the 6 mi (10 km) high, 74 mi (119 km) wide Hawaiian shields.[26] [27][28] The highest of these, Olympus Mons, is the tallest known mountain on any planet in the solar system.
Venus also has over 150 shield volcanoes which are much flatter, with a larger surface area than those found on Earth, some having a diameter of more than 700 km (430 mi).[29] Although the majority of these are long extinct it has been suggested, from observations by the Venus Express spacecraft, that many may still be active.[30]
The Hawaiian eruptions of shield volcanoes do not pose much threat to humans, as they emit large amounts of slow moving lava over long periods of time. However, they are hazardous to agriculture and infrastructure; the ongoing 1983 eruption of Kīlauea has destroyed over 200 structures and buried miles of highways.
Pyroclastic shields[edit]
Rarer pyroclastic shield volcanoes are similar to normal mafic shields in shape. But rather than being formed entirely by basalt lavas, pyroclastic shields are mainly formed from explosive eruptions of ignimbrite.[31]
- ^ This excludes flood basalts, large sheets of volcanic material that do not actually resemble volcanoes.
- ^ a b c d e f g Topinka, Lyn (28 December 2005). "Description: Shield Volcano". USGS. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
- ^ Douglas Harper (2010). "Shield". Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "How Volcanoes Work: Shield Volcanoes". San Diego State University. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "Shield Volcanoes". University of North Dakota. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Global Volcanism Program - Shield Volcanoes".
- ^ a b c d e "How Volcanoes Work: Hawaiian eruptions". San Diego State University. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "New Giant Volcano Below Sea Is Largest in the World". National Geographic Daily News. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- ^ a b c d "VHP Photo Glossary: Shield volcano". USGS. 17 July 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
- ^ a b c d World Book: U · V · 20. Chicago, Illinois: Scott Fetzer. 2009. pp. 438–443. ISBN 978-0-7166-0109-8. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ a b c Bill White and Bree Burdick. "Volcanic Galapagos: Formation of an Oceanic Archipelago". University of Oregon. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
- ^ Topinka, Lyn (18 April 2002). "Description: Lava Tubes and Lava Tube Caves". USGS. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
- ^ "Summary of the Pu`u `Ō `ō-Kupaianaha Eruption, 1983-present". United States Geological Service - Hawaii Volcano Observatory. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ James S. Monroe, Reed Wicander (14 February 2008). The changing Earth : exploring geology and evolution (5th ed. ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-495-55480-6. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
- ^ Watson, Jim (5 May 1999). "The long trail of the Hawaiian hotspot". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
- ^ Regelous, M.; Hofmann, A.W.; Abouchami, W.; Galer, S.J.G. (2003). "Geochemistry of Lavas from the Emperor Seamounts, and the Geochemical Evolution of Hawaiian Magmatism from 85 to 42 Ma". Journal of Petrology (Oxford University Press) 44 (1): 113–140. doi:10.1093/petrology/44.1.113. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
- ^ "Evolution of Hawaiian Volcanoes". Hawaiian Volcano Observatory - United States Geological Survey. 8 September 1995. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- ^ a b "How Volcanoes Work: Galapagos Shield Volcanoes". San Diego State University. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
- ^ "Volcanoes". Galapagos Online Tours and Cruises. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
- ^ a b "Volcanoes of South America: Galápagos Islands". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
- ^ a b c d Ruth Andrews and Agust Gudmundsson (2006). "Holocene shield volcanoes in Iceland". University of Göttingen. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ Bailey, K. (30 April 1976). "Potassium-Argon Ages from the Galapagos Islands". Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 192 (4238): 465–467. Bibcode:1976Sci...192..465B. doi:10.1126/science.192.4238.465. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
- ^ Rossi, M. J. (1996). "Morphology and mechanism of eruption of postglacial shield volcanoes in Iceland". Bulletin of Volcanology (Springer) 57 (7): 530–540. Bibcode:1996BVol...57..530R. doi:10.1007/BF00304437. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
- ^ a b Lyn Topinka (2 October 2003). "Africa Volcanoes and Volcanics". United States Geological Service. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- ^ "Menengai". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- ^ Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest (1999). Space Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7894-4708-8. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
- ^ Watson, John (February 5, 1997). "Extraterrestrial Volcanism". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ^ Masursky, H.; Masursky, Harold; Saunders, R. S. (1973). "An Overview of Geological Results from Mariner 9". Journal of Geophysical Research 78 (20): 4009–4030. Bibcode:1973JGR....78.4031C. doi:10.1029/JB078i020p04031.
- ^ Carr, M.H., 2006, The Surface of Mars, Cambridge, 307 p.
- ^ "Large Shield Volcanoes". Oregon State University. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ^ Nancy Atkinson (8 April 2010). "Volcanoes on Venus May Still Be Active". Universe Today. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ^ "Global Volcanism Program | Educational Resources | Types and Processes Gallery | Shield Volcanoes". Volcano.si.edu. Retrieved 2012-12-24.
External links[edit]
Media related to Shield volcanoes at Wikimedia Commons


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Yesterday we showed you which SEC basketball squads "fit the profile" of a traditional NCAA Tournament team. Like Greg Brady fitting the suit of the new Johnny Bravo, 95% of the time, you call tell which teams will reach the Big Dance by simply looking at a few numbers: RPI, strength of schedule, record versus Top 50 RPI, quality road wins, bad losses to teams outside Top 100 RPI.
Last night, Florida further locked up a bid to the NCAAs with a win at Alabama. The Tide and Mississippi State failed to help their causes. LSU — which is too far off the bubble to begin with — got a nice win that should help its NIT status:
If the Gators weren't a lock before last night — by the numbers they were between a "lock" and "probable" — they've punched their ticket now. Patric Young (19 points) and the Gators dominated Alabama inside for a nine-point road win. The win is the second road victory over a Top 50 RPI club for the Gators and it gives UF its 14th consecutive 20-win season.
Alabama struggled in the paint without suspended stars JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell. Trevor Releford and Andrew Steele did return for the Tide last night, but the team is now 0-2 with both Green and Mitchell out of action. Anthony Grant — who's really paying an on-court price for taking a bold off-court stand — says he'll evaluate the status of Green and Mitchell before Saturday's game with Tennessee.
The fact that Bama was shorthanded shouldn't impact the Gators' tourney resume. Alabama, on the other hand, is now just 2-5 against Top 50 RPI clubs.
LSU 69, Mississippi State 67 in OT
Rick Stansbury's team had a chance to steal a road win at Baton Rouge last night. Instead, they saw their overall record fall to 19-7 as LSU's Anthony Hickey sank a driving floater with 1.4 seconds remaining in overtime. The win pushes LSU's record to 15-10 overall. The loss was the second in a row for MSU… both coming in overtime (Georgia won at Starkville on Saturday).
Ralston Turner led the Tigers with 17 points. Dee Bost and Rodney Hood scored 15 and 14 to lead the Bulldogs.
For MSU, last night's loss did not hurt so much as it failed to help the Dogs' NCAA hopes. We would conclude that their resume still lands them in the "probable" category for an invitation to March Madness.


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Whether you're a high school student, graduate student, international student, nontraditional student or military service member, now's your chance to Discover Central. More...
Ask us! We're here to help. You'll find mountains of info online plus email addresses and phone numbers if you need to connect with a human. More...
CMU is a diverse and dynamic intellectual community. Make yourself at home, starting with this gateway to campus resources and services for faculty and staff. More...
Welcome to your home for everything maroon and gold. The CMU Alumni Association brings Chippewas together through social media and at events across the country. Catch the Central spirit here. More...
Find out how parents and family can immerse themselves in Central's culture, activities and events, and discover how we support you and your student. More...
We thank you — a member of our local or regional community — for your support and partnership. Come visit. Come be a part of it all. We're here to serve you, too. More...
Welcome to the CMU CARES website.
CMU adheres to Core Values of integrity,
respect, compassion, inclusiveness, social responsibility, excellence and
innovation. We deeply care about the
health, well-being, safety, and academic success of our students.
The CARE Team
The CARE Team is a small group of CMU
staff and faculty who meet weekly during the academic year and at other times
as needed to develop individualized plans to support students who are struggling or having a difficult time. The information shared in this group is
confidential and is used for the purpose of determining the best approach to
reach out to the student in distress. CARE Report information is shared in this
meeting along with selected information available from the team members'
respective offices. The CARE Team Coordinator convenes the CARE Team meetings
and assigns a CARE Situation Manager to specific situations.
Currently, this group is comprised of a representative
from Residence Life, CMU Police, Office of Student Conduct, Student Disability
Services, Counseling Center, Veterans Resource Center, Sexual Aggression
Services, and the Office of Student Affairs. Confidential Counseling Center
information is NOT shared in CARE
Team meetings.
The CARE Report
A CARE Report is submitted to the CARE
Team Coordinator when one has significant concerns about the health,
well-being, and / or academic success of a CMU student. CARE Reports are
reviewed by the CARE Team Coordinator, intervention plans developed, and some
reports are brought to the CARE Team meeting for discussion and specialized intervention
planning. CARE Reports may be submitted
by phone to the CARE Line 989-774-2273 or online.
CARE Reports and the CARE phone line messages
are reviewed daily, Monday through Friday, when CMU is open. If an immediate or imminent threat or an emergency
exists, call 911 or contact CMU Police at 989-774-3081.
CMU's TAKE CARE initiative strives to strengthen and further develop a community of caring individuals who look out for and take care of others as well themselves. Through Central Michigan University's Take Care initiative, you are encouraged to observe what is going on around you, notice potentially dangerous or serious situations, and respond to the best of your ability to influence a better outcome. For further information see theTAKE CARE initiative website.
The CMU Cares website is based in large part on the University of Rochester's Care Network website:
In some cases, content included on the CMU Cares website was derived directly from the University of Rochester while other text has been tailored to more appropriately fit the needs of the CMU community.
Central Michigan University would like to express its appreciation to the University of Rochester and Erin M. Halligan, Associate Director of Student Support Services, for providing valuable consultation and assistance during the development of the CMU Cares program.
1200 S. Franklin St • Mount Pleasant, Mich. 48859
Phone: 989-774-4000


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SMU celebrates spring at Mane Event, a student-run festival of live music, food and fun. The event also celebrates Peruna's birthday, who this year turned 78.
Stay Connected
Helpful Links: Connect with campus resources for you and your student, including Access.SMU, Parking and Pony Card Services and online Pony Card deposits.
SMU Inclement Weather Policy: If conditions warrant closing, the campus community will be notified by email, and information will be posted on the SMU home page and Twitter.
Tuition Information: Make a payment through SMUpay, find due dates and payment plan options on the SMU Bursar website.
Health and Safety: Learn about substance abuse prevention and sexual misconduct policies and procedures, and find important campus resources to support students, including the SMU Health Center.
SMU Aware: Learn about campus emergency preparedness efforts. In the event of an emergency, call the SMU Parent Info Line at 214-SMU-PARENTS (214-768-7273 or toll free 1-888-768-7273) for updated campus alerts. Contact SMU Police at 214-768-3333.
Join Us: The SMU Parent Leadership Council and the Mothers' and Dads' Clubs welcome SMU parents.
SMU's Second Century: SMU is celebrating the centennial of its founding in 1911 and opening in 1915. Join the Celebration and learn about the Second Century Campaign.
2013-14 Parents Calendar
Click to download and print. Note that dates may be subject to change; please confirm against the SMU calendar.
April 7-25
Fall and summer enrollment
April 18
Good Friday holiday
May 5
Last day of class
May 6
Reading day
May 7-13
Final exams
May 14
Residence halls close
May 15
May Term on Campus and SMU-in-Taos
May 16
May 17
October 25
Family Weekend 2014
November 15


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Bergen Lutheran Church is pleased to have author Tom Roberts and his wife, Tammy, as presenters for this year's "Come to the Table" program. The event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. in the Bergen Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.
Tom Roberts is originally from the Ipswich/Aberdeen area of South Dakota, but he and his wife, Tammy, have been long-time residents of Sioux Falls. His affiliation with the Children's Home Society (CHS) began several years ago as a volunteer Santa Claus for the kid's Christmas Party. Then in 2002, he and his wife produced one of his stories, "Twas The Night Before Christ," into a book as a fundraiser for Children's Home. The project was a great success for several years and eventually led to his wife becoming a member of the CHS foundation staff.
In the spring of 2009, Tom, too, was invited to join their team as their event coordinator and during his first year there published his second book, "Santa's Prayer." In 2011, Tom launched his third book entitled, "The Little Lost Sock." To date, 37,000 of his books have been sold world-wide raising over $700,000 to help the kids at CHS.
All are welcome to attend this event. "Come to the Table" is sponsored by the Bergen Lutheran Church WELCA. The church is located seven miles west of Vermillion on Timber Road.


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Wichita >Beauty > Platinum Salon & Spa
10248 W 13th St N, Wichita, KS | Directions 6721237.708771 -97.461338
BEST FULL SERVICE SALON I HAVE EVER BEEN TO! – When I first walked into Platinum it felt very warm and inviting. Their front desk girls were awesome! I have never been into a salon that had every employee friendly and welcoming. Then, I get my services done and they were absolutely amazing! I walked out of there feeling so good that I had found a place not only the customer service was outstanding but a place where their actual services were amazing! I love my hair everyday and I will never go anywhere else. They also have the best pedicures I have ever gotten. They offer different price ranges to best fit your budget as well. My next service I am going to try their massages. I hear those are amazing as well! If you are looking for one place to get your hair and spa needs, don't look any further. Try Platinum out, they are amazing!
Best in the Midwest!!! – I have been going to Platinum since it opened. I will NEVER go anywhere else. Tambra and her staff are highly skilled and their service is impeccable. I have natural curly hair and Tambra knows exactly how to cut it. Great customer service and relaxing atmosphere. I would highly recommend them.
Best Facials! – I absolutely love Platinum's facials! Sarah is the best and my face has never looked so good. Soothing music and a relaxing atmosphere--I not only left looking good, but also feeling good! I recommend the hour long facial--but they also have express facials if you are crunched for time.
Awesome massage – I have always gone to Platinum for massages. Lisa is awesome!! They can always fit me in short notice and $60 for an hour massage is a good price!
I got what I wanted! – The first time I went in was the first time I actually came out of a salon with my hair looking how I wanted it. Lacey does a fantastic job! A co-worker referred me, and now I have my sister and husband going to her. She's also been able to fit me in on short notice.
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When Christian was pulling bream from a creek or sometime after, a white man named Robert E. Haynes, 41, confronted him, possibly claiming he was trespassing. An argument ensued and, in the end, Haynes leveled a 16-gauge shotgun at Christian and pulled the trigger. Christian, a 54-year-old black man, died from the gunshot wound to his stomach.
In the wake of the crime, then-Calhoun County Sheriff Roy Snead told the press, "apparently Christian and a companion were fishing in a creek, and this fellow went down to run them off."
It was, by anyone's measure, an appalling killing, yet it was not an unusual one for that era in the South, a time when the civil rights movement was in full swing, when racial tensions were running high, when hatred was at its apex.
Quite simply, events such as this were not uncommon during the civil rights era. Some of them made the news, as the shooting of Christian did in The Star and in a brief mention by the Associated Press. Some were prosecuted, as was the case with Christian's killer, Haynes. (He was sentenced to five years for first-degree manslaughter, later escaped, but was apprehended.) But many of them were not written up in the press, were passed over by local district attorneys or were never investigated at all.
In recent years, there has been a renewed push to re-examine many of these old cases — just how many is anyone's guess — with some of them leading to prosecutions.
Four years ago, the Department of Justice launched its Cold Case Initiative, pledging to "identify and investigate the murders committed during the civil rights era."
Since then, the department's work in the area has been kept from the public. FBI officials would not say which cases they were working on, or even how many cases were being examined. Journalists and others were left to make educated guesses.
In late July, the Justice Department submitted a report to Congress on the progress of the Cold Case Initiative. The report contains a list of 122 cases. Of those cases, 60 were closed, while 62 remain open.
The report lists a total of 17 cases from Alabama. Eleven of them, including Thad Christian's, remain open, while six have been closed.
One listed as open is the case of Rogers Hamilton, who was taken from his home by white men in rural Lowndes County in 1957 in the middle of the night, and shot in the head at point-blank range.
"I am very pleased they are continuing to look at it," said Beatrice Christian, 67, the younger sister of Hamilton, from her home in Cleveland. "My family and I are hoping for justice. I want to see it." (Beatrice Christian is not related to Thad Christian.)
For Gwen Lassiter of Butler, the report is a sign that authorities may be paying attention to the long-forgotten case of her uncle, Frank Andrews, who was shot in the back by a policeman in nearby Lisman in 1967.
"I'm happy to know the case is still open," she said. "All my family wants and needs is closure to this. This lets me know we might get it."
The report says that in a majority of the cases the department decided to close, all of the subjects are dead, while in 14 of them, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence of a racially motivated crime.
This helps explain why a case such as Christian's and others such as that of Jon Daniels, a white Episcopal seminarian killed in Lowndes County in 1965, remain open, while others, such as the case of James Motley, who died in police custody in Elmore County in 1966, were closed.
Douglas Astralaga, a spokesman for the FBI field office in Mobile, said that while the bureau will "look at every avenue out there to bring justice to these victims and their families," he explained that there are many barriers to prosecution, especially after so many years have passed.
"I cannot speak to the individual cases," he said, "but there were many things to consider when looking at the possibility of prosecuting these cases. The suspect may have been deceased; the witnesses may be dead; there may be a total lack of evidence. There are certain parameters we must stay within."
While the report itself says the Department of Justice has "always been willing to reassess and review cold cases when new evidence comes to light," it also points out the difficulties in prosecuting those cases.
"There are certain difficulties inherent in these cold cases," the report said, "Subjects die; witnesses die or can no longer be located; memories become clouded; evidence is destroyed."
The report also mentions cases referred to the states, including the case of Jimmie Lee Jackson. In 2007, a Perry County grand jury indicted ex-state trooper James Fowler on a murder charge in that 1965 case, though it has yet to come to trial. Open as well is the case of Nathan Johnson Jr., killed in Alabaster in 1966. Fowler also shot Johnson.
The former trooper maintains he fired in self-defense in both cases.


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News by Program Area
Browse breaking news, releases and announcements, and recent stories from the field where UMCOR's non-governmental organization is at work providing relief and working with communities to rebuild lives.
Maximizing Resources for a Better Life
Karina Mikaelyan, 46, lives in the mountainous region of Semyonovka, Armenia. She is the primary caretaker for her four daughters and a son, two grandchildren, and her husband, who is unable to walk because of injuries he sustained during the war.
Out of Ashes
Since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2002, over five million Afghan refugees have journeyed home to Afghanistan after living in Pakistan or Iran for more than 20 years.
A Gift of Warmth
Janat Gul was born in Pakistan as a refugee in 1994, while his country was in the midst of a civil war. Gul was happy to return to his homeland of Afghanistan six years ago. He is one of thousands of Afghan children whose families have returned to Afghanistan since 2002 after having lived in Pakistan as refugees for almost 20 years.
Securing a Future
In the Wardak province of Afghanistan, temporary shelters for returning refugees usually means freezing in the winter months, bearing high temperatures in the summer heat and living among the flood waters when it rains.
A Place to Call Home
Abdul Baqui, a 10-year-old Kuchi boy, supports his sick mother and three younger sisters, who are only eight, five, and four years old.
Goats Help Families Recover
The gift of goats is bringing hope to 650 vulnerable families in the Wardak and Kabul provinces of Afghanistan.
Peace After the Storm
Gayane** was tired of living virtually hand-to-mouth. After her drug-addicted husband abandoned her and their son for his own vices, Gayane didn't know what to do or where to turn.
A Place of Refuge
Five years ago a sick, old man named Tigran** was sold into slavery in Chechnya and was returned to Armenia without any documents nor means for supporting himself.
Afghanistan: Relief from the Cold
UMCOR helped 300 families to have a warmer winter in Wardak and Paktya Provinces of Afghanistan.
Ending Human Trafficking
Alisa* fell prey to a human trafficker in her hometown in Armenia. She was just 20 years old and the single mother of a nine-month-old baby. The trafficker forced Alisa into prostitution by threatening to kidnap her young child if she did not do as he said. He kept her enslaved and took all the money she made.


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Addison Apartments for Rent
Apartment Finder is the ultimate tool for searching for apartments for rent in the Addison, IL area. With map-based searching, you'll find just what you are looking for in minutes. You can customize your search many ways and your results will be refreshed in a flash. Browse apartment communities in real time, with photos, floor plans, and more! Your search for Addison, IL apartments is over. The Apartment Finder features include faceted browsing, map-based search, and search results by neighborhood, county, university campus, military base and more. If you are seeking a Addison, IL apartment for rent, you have come to the right place.
Wheaton 121 121 North Cross Street, Wheaton, IL 60187 MapStudio - 3 BR$1,260 - $3,350(630) 614-1424
9 photosCourts Of Williamsburg 2521 Old Tavern Road, Lisle, IL 60532 Map1 BR - 2 BR$915 - $1,110(630) 352-0909
11 photosFurnished Studio - Chicago - Elm... 550 W. Grand Ave, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Map1 BRFrom $1,155(331) 642-8609
- 55+


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Undergraduate Admission > SLU Visits > Graduate Visits
If you are interested in learning more about graduate programs at Saint Louis University and would like to come experience campus, our staff is happy to set up a campus tour, meeting with an academic department, and/or an appointment with a graduate admission counselor.
To schedule, please call (314) 977-2500 or (800) SLU-FOR-U and ask to speak with a visit assistant.
You can also submit your requests via e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Graduate Education Events
Attend a presentation given by a graduate admission counselor with information on the application and admission process, academic programs, financial services and more. Also attend a panel discussion with current graduate students and you have the option of taking a tour of the Saint Louis University campus.
Register now for the following events:


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April 23, 2014
Back to Brothers and Sisters: Compromises
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Bird, a multi-instrumentalist, avid whistler and acclaimed wearer of outlandish socks, surprised an Artown audience, delivering a poignant and beautiful performance of unconventional classical, jazz and folk-inspired indie rock.
Quite a mouthful and he makes it look so easy.
Piano here.
Violin solo there.
Add in a dash of glockenspiel (what's a glockenspiel?) to top it off.
Then looping it all back by using stomp boxes, Bird humbly makes a joke without missing a beat.
That's the lure of Bird. Clean. Crisp. And dare I say, catchy? No, he's too original for that word.
And in a world of stage performers that require lip synching and flashing lights to liven a show, Bird did it, playing most of the instruments by himself.
Beginning with his opening song from the "Armchair Apocryphya" album, "Fiery Crash," Bird immediately won some applause. Not for a strong beginning song (which it was) but an odd spectacle of two spinning gramophones behind him that dazzled and probably confused most people.
But if it's good music, what is there to think about? Who hasn't seen spinning gramophones before?
Set up in front of a background of stars, Bird proved he is the king of understatement, playing five unreleased songs, many without names along with numerous favorites from his most recent album, "Armchair" including the likes of "Plasticities" and "Spare-Ohs" as well as "Tables and Chairs" from the album "The Mysterious Production of Eggs."
Known for looping his layers of music by recording a couple seconds of music, Bird delivered all his songs with a peculiar, haunting relapse as parts of songs piled up on each other.
What was most interesting to note, though, besides the masterfully written and composed music is Bird's appeal to all ages. As an Artown event, a mid 40s wine glass-toting crowd was there, and as a showcase for an aspiring artist who has played with the likes of hit alternative band Wilco, the Heinekens were flowing for the early 20s group. And both seemed to be tapping their feet along to the music.
Bird's ease on stage is refreshing and unpretentious, often saying very little but a simple "thank you" after some of the most riveting violin playing ever heard outside of an orchestra.
And the same can be said about his piano playing, his guitar playing, his mandolin playing and the list goes on. A bold statement, yes, but except, in this case, this reporter doesn't mind giving credit where credit is due.
Bird proves that some musicians just stay with you—one way or another.